Exploring Amsterdam’s Undiscovered North
Once overlooked by travelers, the borough of Amsterdam Noord (Amsterdam North) has developed into a thriving artistic community, a spot for dance and music festivals, and an escape from Amsterdam’s chaotic and touristy center.
This is – or, rather, was – a sponsored guest post, originally published by thehipmunk on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on December 10, 2015. The Hipmunk brand was acquired by SAP Concur and closed down as of January 2020. I’m leaving the article online but I’ve updated and revised it, and will continue to do so as I visit more of the places it lists.
Disclosure: I have changed Hipmunk’s links to my own affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and spend money, I will receive a small percentage of what you spend. This will not affect your cost.
The borough of Amsterdam North was once the industrial site of one of Europe’s largest shipyards, right across the River IJ (pronounced like eye) from the historic center of Amsterdam. From 1922 until 1984 – when the Nederlandsche Dock Company went bankrupt – supertanker, cargo, and passenger ships were meticulously built and carefully launched into the IJ Lake to sail around the world. Today, visitors can explore the repurposed buildings and forests for an eclectic Amsterdam experience many tourists haven’t yet seen.
If you are wheelchair-dependent, read this article about accessible places in Amsterdam before you make any plans!
Getting to Amsterdam North
The borough is only a short free ferry ride away on the opposite side of the River IJ, directly behind Amsterdam Central Station. Five ferries, three of them leaving from behind the station, transport commuters to different parts of the borough 24 hours a day. Trip times range from three to 15 minutes.
Bikes are allowed on the ferry, so rent one near Central Station for the day and take it with you.
A note about biking in Amsterdam
Locals get really angry at tourists who don’t follow the rules – including the unwritten rules about when you can or can’t break the rules! Please stay to the right in the bicycle lane and listen carefully for bicycle bells. Let faster bikes pass you. If you need to slow down or stop, pull over or, if possible, put your bike up on the sidewalk. Before turning, signal your intention by sticking your arm out ahead of time and look behind you before you swerve. And watch out for tourists on foot, who often don’t recognize a bike lane when they see it!
Eye Film Institute
Amsterdam North’s architecturally impressive Eye Film Institute, designed by the Viennese Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, is a short walk from the Buiksloterweg ferry stop. The Institute is a play on words, as “Eye” is also the pronunciation of the IJ River. The institute features an impressive archive of about 40,000 films, 700,000 photographs and thousands of posters and books. Part of the collection was previously housed in the now defunct Filmmuseum in Vondel Park until 2012, when the Eye opened. The Institute regularly screens Dutch and foreign films and holds exhibitions. Patrons may also enjoy a coffee or meal and the views of the IJ harbor at the institute’s restaurant. After exiting the Eye, stroll or bike through Oeverpark just outside the museum (Oever means “riverbank.”)
A’Dam Lookout
The tall building next to the Eye Film Institute is home to the A’Dam Lookout. The observation deck on the roof offers an amazing view over the IJ and the center of the city, and you can also enjoy an interactive exhibit about Amsterdam.
If you dare, take a ride in “Europe’s highest swing,” 100 meters above the ground.
Here’s a detailed description and review of A’Dam Lookout by fellow blogger Cindy Carlsson.
Nxt
Nxt is a new attraction north of the Eye Film Museum. It calls itself a museum of “new media art.” Located in a a light-industry area, it looks like the small businesses around it. It houses digital artworks that are often whole rooms, creating a multi-media, multi-sensory, interactive experience. Book tickets here.
What I enjoyed here was not just that art is projected onto the walls, floors and ceillings, but much of it is interactive, responding to visitors’ movements, both visually and in sound effects. This makes it next to impossible to photograph, but here’s one just to give a taste.
I’m the one in the wheelchair. I quite clumsily turned my ankle right in their lobby, not watching where I was walking. The other person is one of their employees who kindly pushed my chair around the exhibit. I didn’t really need the wheelchair but did need to limp, and I think they were concerned I’d complain. But really, it was entirely my fault!
Noorderpark
A half-hour walk from the Buiksloterweg ferry stop takes you to Noorderpark, a beautiful combination of two older parks (Flora and Volewijks parks) that were merged in 2014 (or take the 52 metro to the Noorderpark station). It’s nearly the same size as Vondel Park (45 hectares or 111 acres), making it a good distance to cycle, walk, and picnic. Noorderpark is split by the lovely North Holland Canal.
Vliegen Forest
Want to get closer to Mother Nature? Cycle east of Noorderpark where Leeuwarderweg merges into Meeuwenlaan to reach W.H. Vliegenbos, a forest named after 20th-century journalist and social democrat Willem H. Vliegen (bos means “woods” and vliegen, by the way, means “flies,” i.e. insects). If you’re not cycling, take the 52 metro to Noorderpark station. The forest features a campsite spanning 25 hectares (61 acres). It includes space for caravans, campervans, or tents, along with a hotel and cabins for rent.
Assuming you arrive via Amsterdam Central Station, make sure to check out my article Amsterdam Central train station sightseeing. You might also like my whole series on small museums in Amsterdam and other sights to see there.
Wondr
Wondr (What’s with this trend of leaving letters out?) is a sort of indoor playground for adults, with 15 interactive rooms of bright colors, lights and active play, along with a roller-skating rink. It all looks very instagrammable too. It’s about halfway between the IJplein ferry pier and the Vliegenbos. You can get a bit closer by taking metro 52 from the Central Station to the Noorderpark stop. Book your ticket to the “Wondr Immersive Playground,” the “Roller Dreams” or a combo ticket.
Cultural hubs
Looking for a post-industrial experience? Near the ferry resides the trendy yet laid-back IJ Kantine (IJ Canteen) with reasonably priced soups and sandwiches and pristine views of the IJ Harbor. Like many of the buildings in Amsterdam Noord, the IJ Kantine’s building, previously called the Baanderij, has a rich shipbuilding history. It served as an office, assembly hall, and canteen when the wharf was in full swing. Now it’s a favorite for creatives to work and organize brainstorming sessions in the dining area or in one of two boardrooms available for rent. The kantine also holds exhibitions, live music and craft nights.
Just southeast lies Pllek, a self-described creative hangout. (In this case they’ve added an extra letter into the word: plek with one l in Dutch means “place.”) It offers a multitude of activities from yoga to dancing to circus to sex classes. In Amsterdam, not many subjects are taboo. In the summer, an artificial beach provides a spot for dancing and sunbathing. The center also boasts organic and sustainable food with seasonal vegetables sourced locally whenever possible.
If you’re going to visit a number of popular museums and other attractions in Amsterdam, it might be more cost-effective to get a GoCity Pass, which includes admission to a whole list of experiences.
Where to Stay
It would be easiest to stay somewhere along the river near the ferry crossings. The DoubleTree Hilton Hotel Amsterdam is near the NDSM ferry stop (where you’ll also find some great street art), making it a convenient and luxurious stay. For a more atypical experience, stay at the Botel, a floating hotel moored near the NDSM ferry. For the more budget-minded, try ClinkNoord hostel. As Amsterdam Noord is easy to get to from Central Amsterdam, staying at the NH Amsterdam Barbizon Palace allows for quick access to Amsterdam Noord as well as the rest of the city.
Of course, there are plenty more hotels in Amsterdam. Use the map below to take a look at what’s available:
Amsterdam is a small city with a big-city feel, so make a day trip out of Amsterdam Noord or commute to the center. Either way, make sure to rent a bike for the most convenient and efficient experience.
(Last updated August 11, 2024)
My travel recommendations
Planning travel
- Skyscanner is where I always start my flight searches.
- Booking.com is the company I use most for finding accommodations. If you prefer, Expedia offers more or less the same.
- Discover Cars offers an easy way to compare prices from all of the major car-rental companies in one place.
- Use Viator or GetYourGuide to find walking tours, day tours, airport pickups, city cards, tickets and whatever else you need at your destination.
- Bookmundi is great when you’re looking for a longer tour of a few days to a few weeks, private or with a group, pretty much anywhere in the world. Lots of different tour companies list their tours here, so you can comparison shop.
- GetTransfer is the place to book your airport-to-hotel transfers (and vice-versa). It’s so reassuring to have this all set up and paid for ahead of time, rather than having to make decisions after a long, tiring flight!
- Buy a GoCity Pass when you’re planning to do a lot of sightseeing on a city trip. It can save you a lot on admissions to museums and other attractions in big cities like New York and Amsterdam.
Other travel-related items
- It’s really awkward to have to rely on WIFI when you travel overseas. I’ve tried several e-sim cards, and GigSky’s e-sim was the one that was easiest to activate and use. You buy it through their app and activate it when you need it. Use the code RACHEL10 to get a 10% discount!
- I’m a fan of SCOTTeVEST’s jackets and vests because when I wear one, I don’t have to carry a handbag. I feel like all my stuff is safer when I travel because it’s in inside pockets close to my body.
- I use ExpressVPN on my phone and laptop when I travel. It keeps me safe from hackers when I use public or hotel wifi.
Rachel Heller is a writer living in Groningen, the Netherlands. She is the owner and primary author of this website, Rachel’s Ruminations, a travel blog focused on independent travel with an emphasis on cultural and historical sites/sights. Read more here about her and about this website. Rachel also owns and operates a website about travel to UNESCO World Heritage sites.